It is recommended to frequently check the front end of your lift truck as part of your daily or pre-shift inspection, in order to help prevent costly lift truck repairs. By catching any problems as they happen or in advance, you can also help avoid damage to any loads as well. The following includes several of the common guidelines on what particular things to check during regular inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
It is vital to regularly check the forks because if they are cracked or worn out, they could probably fail without warning. Any type of fork damage means that your forklift should immediately be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once again. Visually check your forks for any noticeable signs of wear or damage. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is one more sign that you should replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt backward and forward while being able to move up and down. You might need to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces and fittings if you find that the sliding surfaces are binding. On the inner mast there is a fitting situated on each side. The lift bracket side rollers are a different lubrication point and there is also one on every side roller. Once the lubricating has been done, lower and raise the mast and also tilt it backward and forward a few times in order to make certain that the lubricant is worked properly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily check needs to involve the checking for oil leaks and damage as an uncontrolled mast movement can be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are located inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result can be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you might need to replace the whole cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
Check and make certain that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be certain to check the chains for signs of damage or wear utilizing a chain wear gauge. If wear is present beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain seems rusted or kinked. The chain rollers and the sheave bearings also have to be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain will typically wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you notice wear. This could end up damaging front end parts or even the product. If you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections or if you require help determining what exactly to check on your lift trucks, just contact your local forklift dealer. Their skilled service technicians will help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections according to your scheduling and application requirements.